JOHOR BAHRU, Feb 15 — With just days remaining before the Chinese New Year celebrations, a flower and grass nursery in the city is bustling with activity, awash in vibrant red, yellow and orange blooms as customers make last-minute festive preparations.
A Bernama visit to Katsura Garden and Bonsai Centre along Jalan Sutera Danga, Taman Sutera Utama here found the entrance lined with fruit-laden mini mandarin trees, interspersed with golden-yellow chrysanthemums and neatly arranged bamboo plants.
The nursery’s owner, Chong Ren Kiat, 31, said demand for mandarin trees and ornamental plants remains strong every year, with orders this time coming in as early as two months before the festivities.
To meet rising demand, he began sourcing mandarin trees from Ipoh during that period to ensure sufficient stock.
“Every year, there are customers who come early. Most people prefer mandarin trees with ripe orange fruit, but those who prepare earlier usually choose greener ones so the fruit ripens at home closer to the celebration.
“Mandarins are symbolic. The more fruit on the tree, the more people believe it brings ‘ong’ (good fortune) to the household,” he told Bernama.
Besides mandarin trees, Chong said the nursery also offers a wide range of ornamental plants, such as chrysanthemums, bamboo, bonsai, and other decorative greenery, popular for home and business premises during the festive season.
On pricing, Chong, who manages the family-run business, said the plants are sold at reasonable rates, starting from several tens of ringgit for smaller plants, adding that larger mandarin trees, including imported varieties, can cost several thousand ringgit depending on size and quality.
Sales typically surge in the lead-up to Chinese New Year compared with normal days, providing a seasonal boost for local nursery operators, he said.
Despite the busy period, he said his family still makes time to prepare for the celebration, adding that the nursery will operate for only half a day on the first day of Chinese New Year.
“My family and I are ready for the celebration. Even though we’re busy with business, Chinese New Year is still something we celebrate together,” said Chong, whose family has been running the nursery for about 30 years.
